Gun of Ashes

The steel mask was buried with the elevator in the shaft, his appearance totally revealed.

It was a somewhat handsome face, but that was not what shocked Watson; what shocked her was how she could never have imagined the person behind the mask would be him, the so-called new Pope, Sainy Loter was actually him.

”Raphael...”

Watson whispered his name.

”Do you recognize me, recognize this face?”

Raphael’s reaction was even more interesting than Watson’s; he smiled and then came to a feverish joy.

”I have always been training my Authority, I would exert this power on everyone who looked into my eyes, so in everyone’s eyes I have a different face... yet this face is my true appearance, and only those people have seen, known this look of mine.”

Raphael looked at the bewildered Watson; it was all part of his scheme, amid this series of designs he had already guessed Watson’s identity.

”Only the fellow demon hunters of Raphael have seen this face of mine.

So, is it you?”

All memories pieced together; if there was anyone who could have survived that night of despair and wielded such dreadful power, then only one answer remained.

”I’m truly glad, 016, never thought I would see you alive.”

A deep chill swept over Watson’s nerves, and she almost forgot to breathe for a moment.

”No, impossible, how could it be you beneath the mask...”

”Yes, beneath the mask, it indeed isn’t this face.”

Raphael continued Watson’s words, his expression a little lonely, then flames washed over his cheeks.

The handsome appearance shattered, as if unveiling the Devil’s veil, below was a face terrifyingly daunting, like a burning tree, the entire visage completely withered and shriveled down, gums exposed, cheeks laid bare, beneath was writhing twisted scarlet flesh.

Most fearsome were those eyes, eyelids shrunken to a pitiful state, eyeballs blatantly exposed, rendering Raphael unable ever to close his eyes.

Is it a hallucination?

Watson asked herself this, then she realized, the handsome visage earlier was the illusion, this now is Raphael’s current face.

Such a hideous abominable appearance.

”No… no one could survive such dreadful corruption...”

Watson still dared not believe it; that night every person turned into demons, thirsty for blood and slaughter.

”Yes, no one could survive, but I am different, I am strong, stronger than everyone else.”

Raphael’s voice was calm, but in Watson’s ears, it resounded like the roar of a monster; she looked at those eyes, bloodshot with unrelenting fatigue, suddenly recalling teachings from Raphael a long time ago.

This man before her once said, Authority·Raphael is a terrifying power; it can manipulate hallucinations at will, causing one to drown within, yet similarly, it can also cause the demon hunter to become immersed in it, so to command this power requires an incomparably strong and resolute will, a mental fortitude able to recall one’s name despite facing any hallucination.

”I ought to be dead, the corruption has taken effect on my body, I am bit by bit turning into a hideous demon... yet we all know, ultimately, corruption is a test of our will; if we succumb to it, we would transmute into that fearsome creature.”

Raphael gripped the Nail Sword, a ghastly smile spread across his withered face.

This was no injury but corruption; his form is transmuting, Raphael bit by bit becoming a demon, yet the process of such transformation persisted for years; so many years have passed by today, and still, it hasn’t prevailed over Raphael.

”I am strong, unyielding, even facing the [Holy Grail]’s corruption, it cannot shake my will.”

Radiant glimmers rose from Raphael’s head; it was a circle after circle of thorns crown woven from Holy Silver, sharp spikes deeply pierced into the scalp, leaving a trail of scars long healed yet torn open again.

He leaned on the Nail Sword, like a revenant returning from distant Hell.

”016, Raphael is dead now, what you see now is the new Pope, the new Pope called Sainy Loter.”

”Emperor of Emperors!”

Sainy Loter said, extending his hand, the terrifying face carrying an unsettling smile.

”Will you address me as Your Majesty?”